ACTIVITIES

Here’s some examples of some of the activities going on at the school each week.

Day

Activity

Time

Location

Tuesday

Games Night

18.30

Regent Street Common Room

Wednesday

Yoga

19.00-20.00

Station Road Common Room

Thursday

Football

19.00-20.00

Netherhall School, CB1 8NN

Thursday

Music Club

18.30

Regent Street Common Room

Friday

Volleyball

15.00

Kelsey Kerridge Sports Centre

Friday

5 a Side Football/Badminton/Basketball

16.00

Kelsey Kerridge Sports Centre

Friday

Squash

16.20

Kelsey Kerridge Sports Centre

Friday

Basketball

19.00

St Faith’s Sports Hall, Newton Road

Saturday

Jogging

09.00-09.45

Meet outside Kelsey Kerridge Sports Centre

Saturday

Badminton

14.00-16.00

Kelsey Kerridge Sports Centre

Career Education Information Advice and Guidance (CEIAG)

Career Mark Award

In June 2015 our College achieved the Career Mark Award. In its 6th edition, the award is based on a continuous cycle of development. This ensures that we are demonstrating a high quality CEIAG provision that meets current legislation and guidance. Career Mark also helps to ensure our students receive appropriate support and guidance when making decisions for their future.

Our College Policy

Rationale

An effective Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) programme will make a major contribution preparing our students for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life. A planned progressive programme of activities supports them in choosing career and education pathways. The programme also helps students select options that suit their interests, abilities and helps sustain employability throughout their working lives.

Commitment

In order to ensure our students leave St Andrew’s fully equipped to be successful in the employment market, the College has taken the decision to use the Career Mark Framework. This will support and ensure the College complies with the requirements of the 2011 Education Act and the subsequent Statutory and Supplementary Guidance published in April 2014.

Aims

St. Andrew’s College Cambridge Careers Education and Guidance policy has the following aims:-

to contribute to strategies for raising achievement, especially by increasing motivation

to support inclusion, challenge stereotyping and promote equality of opportunity

to encourage participation in continued learning including higher education and further education

to develop enterprise and employment skills

to reduce drop out from and course switching in education and training

to meet the needs of all our students through appropriate differentiation

to focus students on their future aspirations

to inform parents, agents and carers

A range of measures are used to assess how student progress, evaluate the programme and communicate success to students, parents, agents and staff.

Destination Measures are;

Student UCAS Registrations by the end of February

Student UCAS Conditional Offers by the end of March

Student UCAS Unconditional Offers by the end of September

Success rate moving from Key Stage 4 to 5

The development of student competencies and individual progression is monitored weekly using a simple ‘traffic light system’.

Student Entitlement

Careers education and guidance is an important component of the Curriculum. A ‘Student Entitlement Statement’ forms part of ‘The Student Handbook’ issued to students at their Induction Session. A comprehensive UCAS Guide written and developed for our students is also issued.

Development

The Policy has been developed by the Principal with input from Tutors and the Career & Further Education (C&FE) Coordinator. The Policy is reviewed by the Principal every year based on current good practice guidelines. The document is signed off by the Principal.

Links with other Policies

The Policy supports and is underpinned by key college policies including those for Teaching and Learning, Assessment, Recording and Reporting Achievement, Citizenship, PSHE, Work Related Learning and Enterprise, Equal Opportunities and Diversity, Health and Safety, Gifted & Talented and Special Needs.

Implementation of Careers Education and Guidance

St Andrew’s CEIAG provision is delivered by Personal Tutors allocated to each student, the General Studies Tutor and subject teachers. Provision is integrated in to subject Schemes of Work and Lesson Plans where appropriate. Tutors have weekly meetings with students to provide CEIAG and monitor progression. The Principal monitors students and provides help and support to Tutors.

Impartial and independent careers guidance is provided through a combination of Tutors, a range of external providers and independent specialist advisers. The College provides a programme of careers related events throughout the year. Events have been mapped against Career Development Institute Framework for Careers, Employability and Enterprise Education.

A Careers Library, together with computer and internet access is available throughout the college day. Extra support, where appropriate, is provided by the SENCO, Principal and Tutors.

Equality and Diversity

Careers education is provided to all students and provision is made to allow all students to access the curriculum. Students are encouraged to follow career paths that suit their interests, skills and strengths with the absence of stereotypes. All students are provided with the same opportunities and diversity is celebrated. Tutors and teaching staff are aware of and trained regarding cultural diversity and related issues.

Parents Agents and Carers

Parental involvement is encouraged at all stages. Parents/Agents are kept up to date with careers related information through letters, emails and End of Term Reports. Parents and or Agents are welcome at careers interviews and where necessary are invited. A communication link is established between Tutors and House Wardens to facilitate feedback out of normal teaching hours.

Management

The Principal has overall responsibility for the delivery of the CEIAG programme for all key stages.

Staffing

All staff contribute to the CEIAG programme through their roles as Tutors and subject teachers. The C&FE Coordinator works closely with Tutors to help ensure consistency, continuity and assists with the effective dissemination of CEIAG information to all staff.

The Careers programme is planned, monitored and evaluated by the C&FE Co-ordinator. The Co-ordinator will liaise and consult with partners to ensure that specialist career guidance is available when required.

The C&FE Co-ordinator is responsible for maintaining the Careers Library.

Curriculum

College programmes includes careers education tutorials, career guidance activities (group and individual work), information and research activities, work related learning and individual learning activities.

Partnerships

Our partners provide impartial and independent careers guidance. The College has strong links with a number of Universities. Anglia Ruskin University, Oxford Brookes University, the University of East Anglia, University of Kent, University of Birmingham, University of Reading, University of Leeds, Queen Mary University of London, University of Essex and University of Brighton. The College is building new relationships with Durham, Exeter and Liverpool attending Events at College this year.

They attend at least once a year at pre-arranged open days. Representatives from the universities deliver presentation to assist students in their UCAS applications. A number of other universities attend for one off visits.

Strong relationships with Universities and local colleges also enable students to attend workshops and lectures to further develop their awareness of life at university.

The College is working to provide links with local businesses.

Resources

Significant funding is allocated for the development and support of CEIAG and the provision of Personal Tutors. The C&FE Co-ordinator is responsible for the effective deployment of non-staff resources.

Staff Development

The Principal’s weekly meeting with Tutors provides regular support for those delivering CEIAG. A number of new Tutors are supported by more experience Tutors. Where CEIAG training needs are identified through these meetings, information is fed back to the C&FE Co-ordinator who will arrange appropriate training.

Monitoring Review and Evaluation

St Andrew’s CIEAG provision is monitored and evaluated annually by the Principal. A range of both quantitative and qualitative measures are used to assess how well our students are doing and help identify programme improvements.

The programme is reviewed annually by the Principal and C&FE Co-ordinator. Changes and improvements to the programme are entered into the Business Development Plan along with timescales for completion.

When reviewing the programme, the College Improvement Plan (CIP) is used to ensure that CIEAG provision given is fully supporting the overall college aims.

Monitoring Review and Evaluation

St Andrew’s CIEAG provision is monitored and evaluated annually by the Principal. A range of both quantitative and qualitative measures are used to assess how well our students are doing and help identify programme improvements.

The programme is reviewed annually by the Principal and C&FE Co-ordinator. Changes and improvements to the programme are entered into the Business Development Plan along with timescales for completion.

When reviewing the programme, the College Improvement Plan (CIP) is used to ensure that CIEAG provision given is fully supporting the overall college aims.

How We Support Our Students

With few exceptions, St Andrew’s student profile is international. The College has responsibility for helping students adjust to being away from home and the UK environment. As such we put in place an extensive programme of tutor training and pastoral support. Our staff are experienced in assessing the needs of our students.

Students arrive with future aspirations that are not always realistic. Each is allocated a personal tutor who manages expectations in a positive way to ensure good outcomes. Both Tutors and teaching staff are aware of and trained regarding cultural diversity and related issues.

Our CEIAG is based on an initial face to face discussion with students. A comprehensive UCAS Guide written and developed for our students is issued. The Principal meets tutors every week to monitor progress.

At the start of the year Tutors make contact with Parents/Agents to introduce themselves and establish a communication link. From time to time parents/agents will visit College to discuss career options. At the end of each term, a progress report is sent to Parents/Agents.
Our CEIAG provision is supported by activities such as the Young Enterprise Programme where students participate in forming and running their own company. Students create ideas for products they will design and sell. Other partnership workshops are designed to add practical experiences. Also linked subject Lesson Plans show, for example; how activates such as presentation and team work skills are developed.

The College identifies Gifted and Talented students who are provided additional Tutor support to manage a more demanding university application process within a limited timeframe. Students with Special Education Needs are also provided additional support throughout the UCAS process.
The College has appointed an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Co-Ordinator. The job holder’s objective is to manage a programme ensuring students who need additional English language are supported and meet the English language standard required for university entry.

Gateway to University

Our Tutors are all UCAS trained and their role is to ensure our students select their best possible university options. A comprehensive UCAS Guide written and developed for our students is issued at the start of their final year.

The Guide contains a step by step help for students making their university choices and independent information such as the links below;

www.ucas.ac.uk – the official information on undergraduate courses. The UCAS website also has a section for parents and guardians where you can get a variety of information and can sign up for a newsletter. It is worth registering.

Calendar of CEIAG Activities

September (January for Accelerated students) – Meet tutors and start UCAS application process (AS students moving to A2 would have started application process in previous academic year

Mid October – application deadline for UCAS applications for all medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and veterinary science courses. Also for all courses at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

Last week in October – University Open Day followed by various university visits in second half of term

Mid November – Inspiring Futures, Career Skills workshops

Before Autumn Term ends – All Personal Statements and University Choices completed and application sent for tutor input

Mid January – application deadline for the receipt at UCAS of applications for A2 and September Foundation students

March to June – Students select UCAS Firm and Insurance choices based on forecast grades, IELTS level and tutor advice

End of March – application deadline for the receipt at UCAS of applications for Art and Design courses

End of June – Last date for the receipt of all other applications. This includes January Accelerated students but our target is early March.

May to July – Following Foundation Final Examinations, students placed at university or if unsuccessful, provided with options (Re-take exams, UCAS Extras, etc.)

Mid August – A level results published, students placed at university or if unsuccessful, provided with options (UCAS Extras, etc.)

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Play the Game to discover careers that match your personality, interests and skills. Get the free careers magazine on your phone. Look at what the world of work is really like. Then use this knowledge to find the right courses for you.

THE ST ANDREW’S MEDICS’ PROGRAMME

The St Andrew’s Medics’ Programme is a highly specialised two year programme of study for focused, high-achieving students looking for progression onto degree courses in these competitive fields at leading universities.

The programme is designed for determined students who are looking for successful careers in Medicine, Veterinary Science and Dentistry.

Students study A Levels in Biology, Chemistry with Physics or Maths.

International students will also follow a specialised medicine related English language programme to ensure they have the necessary vocabulary and understanding to undertake this course of study.

All students on this programme will benefit from regular seminars given by experts in these fields. Seminar topics may include; degrees in medicine, the requirements for becoming a doctor, the NHS, topical issues or preparing for interviews.

Students are expected to lead presentations on specific topics in order to build and develop theIr confidence and improve their critical thinking abilty.

The Medics’ Programme has a tutor who oversees the programme and supports the students on a daily basis offering them the best possible chance to succeed in these highly competitive fields.

MOCK INTERVIEWS

A feature of applying to university in the UK is that many universities will interview their applicants. Students can find this process intimidating and may find it difficult to fully express themselves. At St Andrew’s College we will prepare you for this process. Students will undergo mock interview and other practice work in order to be ready for university interviews during their course.

Preparation will include:

In-house interviews with a panel of academic tutors

An external interview with a panel of experts

Group work on interview technique

These sessions will help students to perform to the best of their ability when they are interviewed at their chosen universities.

SEMINARS

Students benefit from regular seminars from external specialists. These include topics such as research on the genetic links between cardiovascular disease and schizophrenia. There is no extra charge for this programme but students will need to demonstrate their ability to participate through previous exam results and from feedback from their teachers.

WORK EXPERIENCE AND VOLUNTEERING

Students on the Medics’ Programme benefit from our location in the university city of Cambridge and from the extensive network of links we have cultivated at the famous Addenbrookes Hospital and at other local medical institutions.

As a result, students are able to undertake a series of work experience and volunteer placements to help support and enhance their application to study medicine.

Volunteering and charity work during term time also forms an important pathway to a medical discipline degree course in the UK, and may include placements for Oxfam and the British Red Cross.

International students are strongly advised to undertake hospital work experience in their home countries during vacations, and our Principal can help with organising this.